Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Harriet’ Launches to Dig New L.A. Metro Line Tunnel
Tunnel boring machine Harriet. L.A. Metro
A name can be a powerful way to garner community support for an important transit project.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority on Monday christened a tunnel boring machine named Harriet that will be drilling a subway tunnel for the future Crenshaw / LAX light-rail line , lending gravitas to the transit project that will connect a major African-American community to the L.A. area’s growing rail network.
As of 2014, the 90008 ZIP code was home to nearly 22,900 African-Americans, 69.3 percent of the area’s population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Crenshaw Boulevard itself is one of L.A.’s major north-south thoroughfares and a hub for African-American businesses in the nation’s second-largest city.
“A fitting name as we enter African-American History Month and begin construction on our very own underground railroad,” said Mark Ridley-Thomas , L.A. County supervisor and Metro Board chairman, of Harriet during the TBM Lowering Ceremony.
An homage to black abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who helped slaves escape north via the Underground Railroad, the machine will dig two 60-feet-wide tunnels connecting the Leimert Park neighborhood with Exposition Boulevard, where a transfer will be available to the Expo Line , a light-rail link connecting downtown Los Angeles with Santa Monica.
The chance to name the TBM drew a big response from the community. L.A. Metro received more than 200 submissions and 15,000 votes for various proposals.
“Today is the day where we begin the work to link our communities together, whether it be in the San Gabriel Valley to extend our system out to Azusa or toward Santa Monica connecting out to the West Side,” said John Fasana, Duarte City Council member and Metro Board first vice chair. “Crenshaw is going to be part of that.”
Watch video of the TBM Lowering Ceremony here , complete with Mayor Eric Garcetti quoting Run DMC “against the better advice” of his staff.
Dave Nyczepir is a News Editor at Government Executive's Route Fifty.
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